Shoe-lace-fastening device



Dec. 25, 1928.

A. BoNGlovANNl SHOE LACE FASTENING DEVICE Filed April 30. 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 vDeu. 25, 1928.

` A. BONGIOVANNI sHoE LACE FASTENING DEVICE Filed April 30. 1928 l2Sheets-Shag?, 2

Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,696,790 PATENT cerros.

ANTONIO ,BONGIOVANNL OF BABNESBORO, PENNSYl'iVANIlA,y ASSIGNOR 0F ONE.'-

FOURTI-I TO JESS FRIDMAN, OF BARNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA; ONE-FOURTH TOSAMUEL IRVING GALLET AND ONE-FOURTH TC! TOBEAS VJ'.

JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GALLET, BOTH F SHOE-LACE-FASTENING DEVICE.

This invention relates to shoe fastenings, and more particularly tomeans for fastening the tied ends of a lace or cord used for lacing ashoe so that the lace may not work come untied or work loose, the tongueof the shoe will slip toward one side and expose to view the stockingunderlying the tongue, while the tongue will soon become wrinkled, thuscausing irritation of the foot and producing discomfort and annoyance tothe wearer and also presenting an unsightly appearance.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple, eiiicient andinexpensive device for fastening shoe lacings in ksuch manner that theymay not become untied or work loose.

Other objects are to provide a device of the stated character byV whichthe ends of a lace or cord used for lacing and tyinga shoe may besecured together so as to prevent the lace from becoming untied, andwhich will present a neat and attractive appearance and at the same timewill not present any eX- terior protuberance or projection that maycontact with and tear the clothing of the wearer or release the lace.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described withreference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a partof this specification, and then pointed out in the claims at the end ofthe description.

In said drawings, Fig. l is a perspective view of a shoe lace fasteningdevice embodying my invention; the upper clamping lmember being showninraised position; v

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of said device showingthe members in position to clamp a shoe lace therebetween, the clampingmember being also represented by dotted lines in raised position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line k of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a detail sectional view illustrating the springhingeconnection between the two clamping members; n

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of theupper clamping member detached; Y

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a laced shoe having the ends of the lacetied and clasped by a fastening device embodying my invention, so thatthe knot cannot become untied or the lace work loose, while the tongueis kept securely in place and prevented from slipping sidewise;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention, showingthe device detached with the upper clamping member in raised position;

Fig 8 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 9 is a side view of said modification showing the clamping membersin closed position -with the tied ends of the llace clampedtherebetween; the lace being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 10 ris a sectional plan viewof the lower` or base member of thedevice; the upper member being removed;

,Figa l1 is a perspective view of another modification showing theassembled parts in position for the ends of the lace or shoe string tobe placed therebetween; and

Fig. l2 is a side view of the last named modification.

Referring to the drawings, in which the same reference characters areused to denote corresponding parts in different views, A (Fig. 6),denotes an ordinary laced shoe with tongue B and adjacentedges of itsvamp drawn together by means of a'lace or cord C, the ends of which areshown tied together in the usual manner and clasped between the upperand lower members of a fastening device embodying my invention.

Said device, in the form shown in Figs. l to 5, comprises a base-plateor lower member D, and an upper or cover member E, pref erably oftriangular form; .the lower member having perforations therein, asshown, for sewing or otherwise attaching it to the tongue of the shoe atthe upper end thereof.

The member E' is rockably secured upon the base-member D so as to adaptits front end to be raised and swung backwardly on Iits pivotalsupportlinto theposition represented in Fig. 2, and lowered, into`position; to clasp or clamp the tied ends of the lace between it and thebase member, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. SuchV movements are made againsta yielding frictional resistance andv spring effect exerted by anintermediate spring-metal plate D1 which is secured upon the base-plateD overlying the.pintleorfpii7- ot-pin on the shank of the swingingmember E so as to pivotally secure` theassembled parts together. By suchpivotal connection, the .upper orcover member will be. held firmly ineither an upwardly Vand backwandly ini clinedaposition, as shown inFigs. l and 2, orin a/ downwardly and forwardly.inclined position, asshown in `section in Fie; 2,'.fwitln theicord-.or lace-firmly clamped.between it and the base member. The assemblediparts beinggthus secured`together,cannot be. disassembled. with out.; disconnecting the sprinmetal Ipart, which isheld Vin place by up.- turned frontiand rearmarginal portions (Z. and di' of the base-plate bent over andoverlapping the edges of said spring-metal plate, as shown inFgs.'l,v2.and:i3. The Aupper plate Eris shown; withY a; triangular`portion thereof cut outate andbent downwardly to provide a.dependingiflange on shank@1 which: carries the pivot-pin or pintlec2resting onV the base-plate Dneanits'.- rear end underneathu thespringemetal. `(plate4 D1. Portions ofcthe latter plate are archedtoform grooves` or` depressions in, the underside thereof for receivingVsaidpivot-.pini ,orf pintle a Vand :prevent it from slipping forward.outback when. the upper clamping; fmember i is moved ,into openaor.closed positioni TheaforesaidV pivot-pin or pintle isoffrovalmoreeggfshaped formv in: .cross-section andits. elongated partrests uponthe base-plateD, solthat iby'prese surenuponithe rear.Vendaof'rthe: clamping` member AEathe pivot-pin will. be; turned withi acamelikefaction v against the overlying spring-metal plate, therebyraising `the zlfronti end of:saidrclampingmember wand causing it toswing rearwardly against thefrictional resistance` resulting fromthepressure. of'V said` springemetal plate ;onf theI pivot-pin un tilithelatter has turnedufan enough to cause its narrower v uppermostv portionto- Vpass a vertcalplane. or line intersectingsaid pivot-.epinnperpendicular to said 'basenplatez when the latter isiniahorizontalposition, where upon said clamping memberl `willibequickly4 moved;forward into open, position, Vand on the reverse movement frictional.fresistance will.` be., exerted; inlike manner untill` said up= permostportion of 4the pivot-.pinfhas moved, backpast said `vertical plane,Othery forms oflpivotpins may obviously be used with# thesameresult, forinstance, a pin ofrectangular from inl cross-section.

As azmeans forv fastening-the 4free-ends of the clamping memberstogether while permitting thesameto beeasily separated to release` the.shoe string orlace, a ball and socket connection of the type used ongloves `is advantageously employed, the 4same consisting ofa knob F onthe base-plate at the front end thereof adapted to snap into a socket onthe member .E in engagement with a spring, so that by forcing the roundknob into the.- socket,1 the two members will be locked in closedposition and may be easily released byisiinply ,withdrawing said knob.By the described construction and arrangement` of '1p arts, the deviceis `a da pted to tir-mlyclamp andsholdza shoe lace betweenf the: upperAand t lower clamping members withouty other fastening means, but one orboth plates are preferably provided with.

projections or teetlror. sharp points adapted. totake intotheoverlapped.:end-portions o''y theishoe. laceonstring and preventendwise movement.` thereof even if; the ends should not be. tiedtogether. Accordingly, as shown in Fig-.1,1 the spring-metaleplate D`lrhas a tooth (Z2 struck u) therefrom at or near the base of theitriangle.andothe clamping inembeiul' has,itsmarginalgedges serrated or.

toothed land turned.. downwardly so as to overlie the .upturned' edgesof the, base-plate g theitooth d2' being;V located directly in front.

ofthmpivotal ,connection between` the two clampingmembers.`

In` the modification sliown,. .in.= Figs. 7 to l() of Athey drawings,the springmetal plate has struck up therefrom. a single toothiol5v atior near. i the apex-f of 'the triangle. and a pair. otwteethudlspacedapart at or near lthe pivotal connection between the .two memb ers` Dandfllyaand. an intermediate tootlralt, while the upper member E hasformed thereon in-I wardly scuizved sharp; points or teetht (It, oneon.: eachl side, neariits frontA end,I adapted .to

engagethe lace-ends: between the toothV di" andthe .teeth d?.

The modifieationshown in Figs. il and 12: issubstantially identical infconstructi.on`

and-mode offoperation; withv the 4device shown inFiigsa 7ltoll0,'"exce.pt that; in this instance sharp pointsfonfteetliarexprovidedon ther intermediate spring-.metal plate .i D2: only;onatooth being, struck iupfrom; lthe latter plate at orneardt's yfrontVend and theother near its pivotal connectionA with' the upper-` clampingmember; the lattersn'iembenbeing unprovided, with teeth.

Fastening devices embodying this4 invenf tion' may -beiconstructedffof'anyzsuitablemaf ter-ialpsuch, for example, as nickel-plated`metal,isilver `or lgoldyand may .be ornamented so as to presentanattractive appearance andl produce a. pleasing; effect.`

In operation, the, ends of thelace or slice string,eithergtiedtogetheror arranged in overlapped relation, are .i placed between the twoclampingi members of the fascured between it and the base-memberuntilsufficient force is applied to release the upper clamping member.from its engagement with the lower member and move it back-- Wardlyagainst said spring-pressure until the uppermost portion ofthe pivot-pinhas passed the point of intersection of said vertical line, whereuponthe spring-metal plate will hold the upper member in open position.

It will be understood of course that various changes may be made in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention, and that the use thereof is not limited to alaced shoe of the particular form shown, or to any particular form oflacing, as the device may be applied to various lrinds of laced shoesand also to other articles of wearing apparel in which lacings are used.

Having thus described my invention, whatv I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A shoe lace fastening device comprising a base member securable tothe tongue of a shoe, a clamping member rockably mounted on said basemember intermediate the ends of the two members so that the front end ofthe rockable member may 'be raised to permit a lace to be placed betweenit and the base member, said members having teeth on their confrontingsurfaces to engage and prevent the lace from slipping, and means foryieldingly holding the two members together with the lace clampedtherebetween; said means embodying a spring-plate secured to thebase-plate and having arched portions or grooves opposing .saidbase-plate within which oval hinge pins cairied by the clamping memberare clamped against the base-plate, said springplate in conjunction withsaid hinge pins serving to yieldingly resist movement of the rockablemember toward an intermediate point and on passing said point toaccelerate its movement into either raised or clamping positionaccording to the direction of movement.

2. A shoe fastening device comprising in combination, a base platesecurable upon the tongue of a shoe, a resilient plate secured thereonand having an arched portion or groove opposed thereto, and a superposedco-operatmgv clamping member rockably mountedon said base plateintermediate thc ends thereof; said clamping member havingI a dependingiiange provided with a pivot pin or pintle of oval or angular form incross-section resting upon said base member, within the groove of saidresilient plate so as to pivotally secure the base plate and clampingmember together in a manner producing frictional resistance to initial`movement of the clamping member in either forward or backward directionto a given point and then accelerating further movement thereof to thedesired position and to thereafter hold the clamping member in thelatter position while permitting a reverse movement of the clampingmember with yielding frictional resistance.

3. A shoe lace fastening device rcomprising upper and `lower clampingmembers with a spring-plate member formed with a transverse archedportion or groove opposed to the base-member and thereunder receivingoval hinge pins carried by the upper member for hinging the two memberstogether intermediate their ends so as to permit the front end of theupper member to be raised into position to receive the ends vof the laceor lowered into position to secure said ends between the two members,said spring-plate member' serving to yieldingly resist movement of saidupper member into either of said positions; andr tohold said uppermember with a yielding resistance to reverse movement in whicheverposition it is placed.

4l. A shoe lace fastening device comprising upper and lowerclampingmembers of triangular form with a spring-plate member formedwith a transverse arched portion or groove opposed to the lower memberand thereunder receiving oval hinge pins carried by the upper member forhinging the two members together intermediate their ends and with theirapices pointing toward the toe of the shoe; adapting the front end ofthe upper member to be raised into position to receive the ends of thelace or lowered into position to secure said ends between the twomembers, said spring-plate member in conjunction with said hinge pinsserving to yieldingly resist movement of said upper member into eitherof said positions; and to hold said upper member with a yieldingresistance to reverse movement in whichever position it is placed.

5. A shoe lace fastening device comprising a base-plate secur'able tothe tongue of a shoe and having marginal flange portions turned upwardlythereover, a spring-plate clamped on said base-plate under the marginaliianges of the latter and formed with a transverse larched portion orgroove opposed to said base-plate, and a clamping meinloer` havingl atransverse -clownturned portion car wing; oppos1tely extended! hin pinsof oval form in cross section elampeelf between the hase and springplatee within` :the archedL portion` ofthe latter, thereby devicecomprising -a with a tranevl-nfee groove oi' arched portiony opposed tosaid haee-platmand a clampingmemberV having; a depending trz'ineversetiange portion carrying oppositely extended hingeepins of oval termincroee section,`

clamped between the hase and, spring platee within the groove of thelatter7 providing a hinge connect-ion between said olampingfmeinher andbase-plate tending to resist Swinging movementoi the one rela-V tivel totheI other either or.v both the beingelampingfmeinber or epringfplate pformed with'teeth to engage the oncle ot the shoe lace topreventloosening or SlippingV thereof.

7. Ashoe lace aeteninglev1co Comprising a base-plate seourahle tothetongne ota shoe and Ihaving marginal flange poi-tiene turnedLupwardly thereovor; a Vspring-plate.

clamped on said yhase-plate under thennarginal-tlanges of the latterand. formedwith a transverse arched portion or groove opposed to saidbase-plate; a clampng-mem-- the tongue of a eline` thereby ber having;a;traneverseeclown-turned por` tion earryngy-oppositely; extendedhinge-L pine ot`,ova l formen cross-section clampedl L0 between the.base4 and; isprifng, platee` within@ the arched portion` of. thelatter,` thereby` providingla-resietive hinge connectionl he-` tween theelampingfmemher and hase-plete; and l'menne foin Separaloly` faeteningSaid 45 clamping-member in clampingposition: to said base-plate.

8.- A l shoe` fastening *devieoi comprising an base-plateseeurabletocthetongne of a shoe,- and having onpositemar-ginah flange.portions turnedonpwardly thereover; ayspringf plete secured on1saicl-hase-pletewunder the,` marginal flanges oftheilatter and forinechwith a transverse 1 grooveborganeheel portiono oppose-d to said,base-plate g1 a Iclamping-memfV -55 bei' having a dependingtransvereefanlgfefV portion carrying oppositelyextendecl hingef pins of ioval.formwincross seetion.: clamped `between-,the base and rspringfplatesWithinthe groove of the lattertthereby providing a hinge connectionbetween-said .Clamping member and baeefplatef tendingvto reeiet swingingmovement ofi the oneirelatively to." theother; and ineane-onsepanablyfastenf ing` said clamping-member naolamping :pon G5 sition to saidbasefplate 51 eitherorbotlr the elempintv j'l-inemloer orl springgplateheing formed withi teeth! to engage :the ends'o the,

yshoe lace vto prevent looeeninggyon,slippingoo thereof.

In testimony,` whereof` 1f I f aiie` myd signatni'e.

ANTONI@ BON GIOVANNI.

